A FORMER Mayor of Sefton who was controversially suspended by his party colleagues on the council has been given the all-clear to seek re-election in May.

Councillor David Pearson’s candidacy for Dukes ward was signed off by Southport Tory chiefs in a meeting on Wednesday night.

The decision of Southport Conservative Association’s executive committee came despite Cllr Pearson’s suspension from the Conservative group on Sefton Council remaining in force. Now Tory councillors are due to decide whether to return the group whip to the Hillside resident – a move that would revoke the decision to suspend him taken last November.

Yesterday, Cllr Pearson said he was “very pleased” at the outcome of the meeting at the Association’s Stanley Street headquarters.

Cllr Pearson, first elected in 1991, said: “My efforts are now to strive to retain my seat for Dukes ward and as ever help its residents to the best of my ability as far as council matters are concerned.

“I would like to publicly thank the very many people that have supported me by letter, phone calls and personal contact – they are much appreciated.”

Cllr Pearson had launched an appeal against his suspension, the reasons for which were never publicly disclosed but are understood to have involved allegations of breaches of group discipline.

Last month Sefton’s Conservative group removed him from all committees, except Southport Area Committee which he sits on by right.

Cllr Paula Parry, leader of Sefton Conservative Group, said the procedures of the Conservative Association and council group are separate – and a decision on whether to hand Cllr Pearson back the whip would be taken democratically at her group’s next meeting.

She said: “We have not yet had a meeting of our group (since the association meeting). I will do what the group wants which has always been the case.”

Phil King, chairman of Southport Conservative Association, said: “We are a democratic organisation and following a wide-ranging discussion and exchange of views, all candidates, including Cllr Pearson, were approved to stand for us in May.

“This enables us to close the debate and focus on improving services for the people of Southport.”

Dukes ward – which takes in the town centre, ‘shoreside’ areas of Birkdale and Hillside – is one of the borough’s Tory strongholds.

Cllr Pearson retained the support of his fellow Dukes ward councillors Sir Ron Watson and Les Byrom and late last year was unanimously backed for re-selection as a candidate by his ward committee.

He was last elected in Dukes ward in 2003, when he triumphed with a 646-vote majority.